RULE OF LAW. SEPARATION OF POWERS. HUMAN RIGHTS.

UN Rapporteur conducts an official visit to Uzbekistan from September 19-25, 2019

The UN Special Rapporteur Diego García-Sayán will carry out an official visit to Uzbekistan from 19 to 25 September 2019 to assess measures adopted by the Government to ensure the independence of judges and prosecutors and the free exercise of the legal profession.

Since President Mirziyoyev took office in September 2016, Uzbekistan has embarked on far-reaching reforms of the justice system.

“During my visit, I intend to establish a constructive dialogue with the Government on the judicial reforms to assess their consistency with international human rights standards, such as the independence of the judiciary and the principle of separation of powers,” García-Sayán said.

“Within the justice system, judges, prosecutors and lawyers must be able to carry out their professional activities freely and must be protected, in law and in practice, from any threat, interference or pressure in the exercise of their duties.”

Meeting with the Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Mr. Tanzili Narbaeva on September 19, 2019.

Meeting with the Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Madam Tanzili Narbaeva on September 19, 2019

On September 21, 2019, the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Uzbekistan received a delegation led by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Diego García-Sayán.

During the meeting, the guests were informed about the wide-ranging reforms being carried out in Uzbekistan, as well as about the ongoing reforms in the field of ensuring the adversarial and procedural equality of the parties in the judicial process, about the work of the prosecution authorities to ensure the rule of law and further reform of the judicial system.

On September 20, 2019 the Supreme Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan hosted a meeting with the UN delegation led by the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers Diego García-Sayán. The parties exchanged views on the effectiveness of measures taken to ensure transparency and openness in the sphere.

At the meeting with the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan Ruslanbek Davletov, measures being implemented in the country to improve the quality of provision of legal services to citizens were considered.

On September 20, 2019, the UN Special Rapporteur met with the Chairman of the Chamber of Advocates of the Republic of Uzbekistan Alim Ernazarov.

On September 20, 2019, the UN Special Rapporteur met with students and faculty of the Westminster International University in Tashkent.